Traffic warning device



April 30, 1968 F. A. MOINICKEN ET AL 3,380,429

TRAFFIC WARNING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1966 INVENTORS Few/ ,4. MOI/VICKE/V, M10145; 6' Aus os' United States Patent 3,380,429 TRAFFIC WARNING DEVICE Frank A. Moinicken, 735 South St., and Michael G. Auspos, 726 Hull Road, both of Anoka, Minn. 55303 Filed Feb. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 529,277 6 Claims. (Cl. 11663) This invention relates to a traffic warning device and more specifically to a portable traffic warning device.

An object of this invention is to provide a collapsible portable trafiic warning device, of simple and inexpensive construction and wherein the primary or main support structure also constitutes a carrying case in which the various parts of the device are stored when the device is in the collapsed position, the warning device being especially adaptable for use by police, fire department, maintenance crews, on streets, highways, and other locations where trafiic control is required. Specifically, the warning device includes a carrying case having extensible and retractable barrier structures which are pivotally connected to the case and which are swingable from a collapsed position within the carrying case to an erected generally horizontal position which are supported by collapsible leg means, the latter also being stored in the carrying case when the device is in the collapsed position. Several of the portable collapsible warning and barricade devices may be easily stored and carried in the trunk of any conventional automobile, and may be quickly erected and collapsed as desired. Warning indicia is applied to selected surfaces of the device and certain signal mechanisms such as warning lights may also be provided.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the barricade and warning device in the collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device in an erected position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device in the collapsed position;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view taken approximately along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts thereof broken away for clarity.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that one embodiment of our warning and barricade device designated generally by the reference numeral is thereshown. The device 10 includes a carrying case or main support structure 11 which as shown is of generally elongate rectangular shaped configuration. The support structure 11 may be constructed of any suitable rigid material and as seen includes a front wall 12, rear wall 13, opposed side walls 14, a top wall 15, and a bottom wall 16 all of which have substantially flat exterior surfaces. It will be noted as best seen in FIG. 2 that when the barricade and'warning device 10 is in the erect position, the support structure 11 is positioned upon a supporting surface such as a roadway or the like so that the longitudinal axis of the support structure is oriented vertically. The support structure 11 has a hollow interior which defines a storage compartment 17 which accommodates certain components of the device therein when the device is in the collapsed condition and which also accommodates certain accessory parts such as flares, flashlights and the like. This compartment 17 is accessible through an opening formed 3,389,429 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 in the upper end of the support structure 11, which opening is closed by the top Wall 15. To this'end it will be noted that the top wall 15 is hingedly connected to the rear wall 13 by suitable hinge means 18, the top wall therefore constituting a closure member for the support structure. The top wall 15 may be retained in the closed condition by a suitable over center latch mechanism 19, 20 the respective interengaging parts being on the top wall and front wall respectively. This over center lat-ch mechanism 19 is of conventional construction as shown and a detailed description thereof is felt to be unnecessary for the instant application.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the rear wall 13 includes a moveable central panel 13a which is hingedly connected at its upper end to the upper fixed portion of the rear wall by hinge means 20. Suitable revolvable latch elements 21 are pivotally mounted on the lower fixed portion of the rear wall and may be swung into and out of engaging relation with the panel 13a to retain the same in its collapsed position as illustrated in FIG. 1. This moveable panel, however, may be swung to an erect position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and may be retained in this elevated position by a hook type latch element affixed to the exterior general central portion of the central panel and a latch engaging eye element 23 affixed to the top wall 15. It is pointed out that the exterior surface of the central panel 13a may be provided with suitable warning indicia which is formed of reflective paint, reflective tape or other suitable visually perceptive material and this rear exterior surface will be forwardly presented when the panel is moved to the erect position.

The side walls 14 are each provided with vertically extending elongate slots 14a opening into recess 24 formed by intermediate wall 12a and front wall 12 which defines a compartment for receiving the longitudinally extensible and retractable barrier structures 25. Each of these barrier structures 25' are of generally elongate rectangular shaped configuration and each is preferably constructed of a suitable rigid material such as wood and the like. In the embodiment shown, three such arm members are provided, two of which are of substantially identical configuration and are designated by the reference numeral 26 and each being adjustably interconnected to an intermediate arm member 27. It will be noted that the arm members 26 are each provided with a longitudinally extending laterally projecting slide element 28 integrally formed with one surface thereof, and the arm member 27 has a pair of longitudinally extending channel shaped slide ways 29 formed in opposite surfaces thereof and extending throughout the length thereof. These slide ways or guide surfaces 29 receive the slide elements 28 therein to permit guided relative sliding movement between the interconnected arm members of each barrier structure so that the arm member may be readily adjusted from a complete retracted position wherein the arm members are disposed in side by side relation with respect to each other, to a completely extended position wherein the arm member of each barrier structure extends longitudinally beyond one end of the adjacent arm member.

To this end it will be noted that the arm members 26 are each provided with a longitudinally extending centrally located slot 30 therein through which projects one of a pair of bolts 31, each bolt extending through an aperture formed in one end portion of the arm member 27. Each of these bolts 31 of each arm member 27 projects through the slot 30 and each bolt is threadedly engaged by wing nut 31a to permit adjacent pairs of arm members to be locked in any desired extended position. The arm members may also be locked in a completely retracted posi. tion wherein the barrier structures will very nicely fit within the arm receiving compartments 24.

The inner most arm member 26 of each barrier structure is pivotally connected to the support structure 11 interiorly of the barrier structure receiving compartment 24. It will be seen that this hinge means 32 includes a hinge plate 33 that is secured to the inner end of the inner most arm member 26 and another hinge plate 34 that is pivotally connected by pivot pin 35 to the rear surface of the front wall 12, the hinge plates 33 and 34 being pivotally connected by a conventional hinge pintle pin or pivot 36 in a well known manner. It Will therefore be seen that each hinge means 32 not only permits the associated barrier structure to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis defined by the pivot pin 35 but also permits the barrier structures to pivot about a substantially vertical axis defined by the hinge pintle pin 36.

It will be seen that the barrier structures may be adjusted to a completely retracted position wherein each of the arm members thereof are disposed in side by side relation and the barrier structure may then be pivoted about its horizontal axis to be positioned within the associated compartment 24. A retaining strap 37 is secured to the upper surface of the bottom wall 16 interiorly of each barrier structure receiving compartment 24 and each of these retaining straps 37 has a snap coupling type socket thereon that engages the snap coupling button or element 38 carried by the outer end of the intermediate arm 37 as best seen in FIG. 2. Thus the barrier structures 25 may be retained in the recess and readily released therefrom for quick erection as desired.

The outer ends of the barrier structures 25 are supported by V-shaped leg structures 39 each comprised of a pair of similar leg members 46 pivotally connected together at their respective upper ends by a pivot 41 and interconnected intermediate their ends by a flexible link 42. The upper ends of the leg members of each leg structure are provided with slots 43 therein which are disposed in alined or registering relation with respect to each other when the leg members are extended to their operative position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the outer most end portion of each outer arm member 26 may be positioned within these slots so that each leg structure supports the outer end of one barrier structure. It will be noted that the leg structures 41 may be collapsed so that the respective leg members are disposed in side by side relation and may be nicely accommodated in the compartment 17.

It will be noted that one of the side walls 14 is provided with a conventional U-shaped carrying handle 44 and that the other side Wall has a bracket plate 45 secured thereto by any suitable securing means such as bolts or the like, this bracket plate 45 having a vertically opening socket element 46 afiixed thereto. The socket element 46 may very nicely accommodate the lower end of the telescoping warning flag pole (not shown) which warning flags are used in conjunction with warning devices and barricades. Suitable electric signal light devices 47 may be provided having U-shaped attachment brackets 48 which are engageable with a selected arm member of the barrier structures 25 to permit mounting of the electric signal light thereon. The barrier structures 25 may also suitably accommodate Warning signs 48 which may be suspended from the arm structures by suitable hook and eye connectors 49 as shown.

When it is desirable to use the barricade and warning device 10, the device may be quickly erected from a collapsed condition to an erect position by first positioning the support structure 11 in vertically oriented relation upon a support surface such as a roadway or the like. The V-shaped leg structures, electric signal lights, flares, warning flags, warning signs and other accessory elements may be removed from the compartment and the top wall may then be latched in its closed condition. The central panel 13a may be swung upwardly to its erect position as shown in FIG. 2 and the barrier structures 25 may be unlatched from their collapsed position within the arm receiving recesses and swung outwardly thereof. The wing nuts 31a associated with each of the bolts 31 may be loosened and each arm member may be extended relative to the adjacent arm member so that the barrier structure may be adjusted with respect to a desired over all length. The wing nuts may thereafter be tightened to lock the arm members of each arm structure in the adjusted position and the outer ends of the barrier structures may be positioned upon and supported by the V-shaped leg structures. In the event that the barricade and warning device is to be positioned around a pit or hole in the roadway, the support structure 11 may be positioned adjacent the hole or pit and the barrier structures 25 may be pivoted about their ver tical axis to be disposed on opposite sides of such a hole. The warning flag may be installed in the pole receiving socket element 46 and the electric signal lights may be mounted in a selected desired position upon the barrier structures 25.

When it is desirable to collapse the barricade and warning device 10, it is merely necessary to remove the various accessory devices, disengage the leg structures from the barrier structures and disengage the central panel 13a from its erected position. Thereafter the top wall 15 may be opened to permit the accessories and leg structures to be inserted therein, the top wall may thereafter be closed and latched. The central panel 13a may be latched in its collapsed position, and the barrier structures may be adjusted to the completely retracted position and swung into the barrier structure receiving compartments 24 and locked therein. The entire support structure 11 will then constitute a relatively compact carrying case which may be very easily carried by a single individual and placed in a vehicle, trunk or the like. When the various components of the barricade and warning device are formed of a light weight material such as wood, the over all weight of the device is relatively small and as pointed out above may be conveniently handled by a single person. Several such devices may be carried by a single vehicle and may be quickly erected for emergency use. It is preferred that warning indicia be applied to the front surface of all of the components when in the erected position and such warning indicia may be reflective paint, or reflective tape or the like. The barricade or warning device may be extended across a roadway or lane of a highway or may be disposed in partially surrounding relation with respect to pit or holes in a roadway. Thus the barricade device is especially adaptable for use when temporary traffic control is required.

It will be noted from the preceding paragraphs that the support structure 11 not only constitutes a carrying case but actually comprises the central or main support for the barricade warning device when the latter is in the erected condition. This main support structure 11 is also arranged and constructed so that it presents a relatively large surface area to which the warning indicia may be applied when the device is in the erect condition.

It will, therefore, be seen from the foregoing description that we have not only provided a warning and barricade device of simple and inexpensive construction but have provided a warning and barricade device which functions in a more efiicient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportion of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable collapsible barricade and warning device comprising an elongate casing adapted to be oriented in upstanding relation on a supporting surface, and having a hollow interior formed by a top, bottom, front, rear and opposed side walls, an elongated intermediate wall in said casing spaced from said rear wall and forming a compartment therewith, said side walls each having an elongate vertically extending slot therein opening into said compartment, a pair of elongated longitudinally extensible and retractable barrier structures each including a plurality of elongated arm members, means interengaging interconnecting adjacent arm members of each barrier structure together to permit said members to be readily adjusted from a retracted position wherein said members are disposed in side-by-side relation to a sequentially extended position wherein one arm member extends longitudinally beyond the end of its adjacent arm member, means hingedly connecting one of said members of each barrier structure to said casing at a point located interiorly of said compartment to permit each barrier structure to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis between a collapsed position wherein each barrier structure is positioned within said compartment, and an extended position wherein each barrier structure projects outwardly from said compartment, a pair of leg structures each detachably engaging one of said barrier structures and cooperating with said casing to support said barrier structures in a horizontal position, said leg structures being detachable from said barrier structures for storage in said casing.

2. The barricade and warning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rear wall portion includes a fixed panel element and a movable panel element hingedly connected to said fixed panel element and being swingable from a collapsed position substantially co-extensive with the fixed panel element to an erect position projecting upwardly beyond said casing, means on said movable panel element releasably engaging retaining means on said casing for holding said movable panel element in an erect position, and visually perceptive warning indicia on said movable panel element.

3. The barricade and warning device as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said arm members of each barrier structure has an elongate slide way therein, and the adjacent arm member has an elongate longitudinal slide element thereon positioned within said slide way to thereby permit guided sliding movement of said elongate members.

4. The barricade and warning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said top wall is hingedly connected to one of said walls, said top wall being swingable between an open and closed position to permit access to the interior of said casing.

5. The barricade and warning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinge means for each of said barrier structures hingedly connects the associated barrier structure to said casing to also permit each barrier structure to pivot J about a substantially vertical axis.

No references cited.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE BARRICADE AND WARNING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATE CASING ADAPTED TO BE ORIENTED IN UPSTANDING RELATION ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE, AND HAVING A HOLLOW INTERIOR FORMED BY A TOP, BOTTOM, FRONT, REAR AND OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, AN ELONGATED INTERMEDIATE WALL IN SAID CASING SPACED FROM SAID REAR WALL AND FORMING A COMPARTMENT THEREWITH, SAID SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING AN ELONGATE VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOT THEREIN OPENING INTO SAID COMPARTMENT, A PAIR OF ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE BARRIER STRUCTURES EACH INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED ARM MEMBERS, MEANS INTERENGAGING INTERCONNECTING ADJACENT ARM MEMBERS OF EACH BARRIER STRUCTURE TOGETHER TO PERMIT SAID MEMBERS TO BE READILY ADJUSTED FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID MEMBERS ARE DISPOSED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION TO A SEQUENTIALLY EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN ONE ARM MEMBER EXTENDS LONGITUDINALLY BEYOND THE END OF ITS ADJACENT ARM MEMBER, MEANS HINGEDLY CONNECTING ONE OF SAID MEMBERS OF EACH BARRIER STRUCTURE TO SAID CASING AT A POINT LOCATED INTERIORLY OF SAID COMPARTMENT TO PERMIT EACH BARRIER STRUCTURE 